But there was one odd thing missing. No, not the iWatch or the
iTV. Those things may never exist. I'm talking about something a
little more mundane: updated Thunderbolt displays that support the
Mac Pro's 4K-video output.

The slick new Mac Pro was touted as an ultra-high-resolution
video-editing monster, and if the machine's specs are any
indication, it will be. The Pro has six Thunderbolt 2 ports and an
HDMI 1.4 port around the back, each of which is capable of pushing
3,840x2,160 video out to a 4K monitor. There are also four USB 3.0
ports capable of outputting higher-than-high-def video to a 4K
display if you use a DisplayLink adapter.

But at this point, Apple hasn't even hinted at a 4K monitor, and
the company's even using a picture of Sharp's 4K beast, the
PN-K321 on its
site. Apple's last Thunderbolt display announcements were way
back in 2011. The last non-Thunderbolt Cinema Displays were
released in 2010.

In other words, they're overdue for an update. And a 4K display
to go along with the Mac Pro's 4K-friendliness sounds like a
perfect reason to do that.

Still, the lack of an Apple-branded 4K monitor isn't necessarily
a dealbreaker. There are other options out there like Asus's
32-inch PQ321Q or previously mentioned 32-inch Sharp PN-K321, both of which you can connect to a Mac
Pro via DisplayPort or HDMI. You could even run video from the Mac
Pro to a 4K TV the same way. And while having 4K video-editing may
be a selling point for Apple's most-powerful (and coolest-looking)
computer to date, but we're still really short on ways to
actually capture4K video, let alone edit it.

The fact is 4K TV sets aren't exactly commonplace in homes just
yet, but computers and streaming video are poised to to change that
reality. More and more films are being shot in 4K, and more and
more films will be distributed that way in the future. Once people
are able to see 4K content on in-home screens, they may see the
difference and be more likely to buy an ultra-high-definition set.
Think of a computer screen as a 4K gateway drug.

Of course, in order to see the difference with 4K, you'll either
need a huge screen or to be sitting really close to it. At 27-to-30
inches, Apple's biggest displays aren't that huge, but you'll
certainly be sitting close to them -- as close as you'd sit to any
computer monitor. You'll see the 4K difference.

There's a little time till December, so it's possible Apple will
announce a higher-resolution display later in 2013 to coincide with
the Mac Pro's availability. After all, the company had a
not-quite-announcement of a 4K-friendly version of Final Cut Pro during Tuesday's
event (and at the
bottom of this page).

But there was no similar half-mention of a new Thunderbolt or 4K
display. So until further notice, fire up that Asus or that Sharp
monitor.